RRF to PPSP: Ep 2

Episode 2: Racial Polarization

University is the epitome of racial polarization in the country. That I found out upon entry to varsity. Everything else follows as this cream of society is destined to lead the rest of the country whose citizen would naturally follow the ideology of their leaders who have been soaked up growing in a soup of racial discrimination.  

University Sains Malaysia (USM) Medical School (PPSP in Malay) started its pioneer batch of students in 1981. Hence, I was in the third set of guinea pigs taught in a new medical education format based on the curriculum modelled by MacMasters Medical School in Hamilton, Canada. It was said that everyone was watching with eyes wide open, in curiosity and possibly for ridicule, its outcome as the system is said to challenge the tradition method of teaching in a medical school.

The enrollment of our class was 96 (after the final adjustments, more later). Admission to the school was via 2 modes- Matriculations (Pre-University course for privileged few) and STPM (A levels in public schools). The standards between this two are like comparing apples and oranges - no compare. Matriculation students are handpicked from the remaining pool of Bumi talent after the creme-ala-creme have been shipped off to represent the country in foreign country with Government-sponsored scholarships. The non-Bumi representative (less than 10%)is predominantly the offspring of those born with a silver spoon or massive political connections. These students are tested on a 6-month semester (then forget about it and concentrate on their next) basis. The mortals like us burn our butts, squeezing 2 years curricula in 18 months just to sit for the easily most difficult examination on planet Earth marked by unknown examiners! 

At the Matriculation course, the playing field is not level. The Non-Bumis are there just as an eyewash. The whole ideology of Matriculation is just to churn a lump of mush to something presentable for the university to them to professionals to meet the Government's social re-structuring. Even in the final exams, when the Bumi student scores 11As of 14As, he is declared the best student through some dubious criteria when there were loads of Non-Bumis obtaining all 14As. In our course of study, the non-Bumis from Matriculation remained aloof on controversies around them but stuck on to their purpose in life - to graduate with a medical degree at the end of the day.

100% of Bumi students (79 in number) in my medical were Matriculation graduates. A handful of them were open-minded and aware of the birds, bees, critical thinking, and could share jokes commonly enjoyed by young adults! Unfortunately, the majority of them were walking zombies. They appear to be draped in Middle eastern desert long tunics with unimaginative colours (both male and female). Speaking English seem alien with unwitting mixing of tenses and gender, e.g. he is having monthly periods!
All Bumi students, rich or poor, were financed by the Government obtained PSD scholarships, 100%. Whilst the mortals, the nons, toil the hot sun to queue to pay our university tuition fees, the bumis would just zoom past in their 650cc bikes. And they wonder why 1-Malaysia cannot be achieved!
Of the remaining 16 non-Bumis in PPSP, 8 were from STPM whilst the rest were from matriculation.
With a motley crew of medical students flocked together in an experiment to prove to the world that their untested system will work, with our future on the chopping block, we, the STPM batch of students, basically spent the good of the first year pondering upon the quality of healers we would be. Or will we just be shamans or kahunas with all mumbo-jumbo happening around us?         

                                        

N.B. In the '80s, when TV tele-serials were in their infancy, and the terrestrial TVs were the only option available, everybody knew all famous, exciting TV shows in all languages. The original 'Shanghai Beach' to the tune of Frances Yip used to echo in the corridors of RRF and was a personal favourite friend of mine, YGC, who used to hum it in class! Even Sudirman and Noor Kumalasari sang it on TV. Talk about spontaneous national integration.